Convertible hood for console range



Feb. 24, 1970 F. H. BANDLow CONVERTIBLE HOOD FOR CONSOLE RANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec, v, 196e N m l a VM mK m M D F Feb. 24, 1970 F. H. BANDLow CONVERTIBLE HOOD FOR CONSOLE RANGE s sheets-sheet a Filed Dec. '7. 1966 7e Z0 67 3&5 /5 22 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,496,704 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 3,496,704 CONVERTIBLE HOOD FOR CONSOLE RANGE Frederick H. Bandlow, Theresa, Wis., assignor to Broan Mfg. Co., Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Dec. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 599,769A Int. Cl. B01d 50/00 U.S. Cl. 55-316 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the convertible range hood shown in my U.S. Patent 3,075,- 335 granted Jan. 29, 1963.

Console range hoods typically have a hood drawer or fume collector slideafbly mounted above the range high oven. The hood drawer is movable from a closed or retracted position proximate the range cabinet when not 30 in use to an extended or projecting position overhanging the burner unit and the oven vents for collection of cooking fumes when the range is in use. It is conventional for such a hood to directly connect to duct work for exterior discharge of the cooking fumes.

It is also conventional in duct-free installations to eliminate the duct work and to incorporate in the hood air purifying filters and partitions for recirculating the air through said filter to the kitchen.

In such conventional prior art hoods known to me, there is no way to readily convert a ducted type hood to a duct-free type of hood. Each type of hood is separately fabricated, and installers of this kind of appliance must keep a stock of both types of hoods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention combines in a single console range hood structure readily convertible for ducted or duct-free operation.

In hoods embodying the present invention, the conversion from ducted to duct-free operation is effectuated by a simple re-arrangement and addition of parts within the hood chamber. This is unlike the disclosure of my prior United States patent aforesaid in which a separate converter housing is added to the outside of the hood t adapt it for duct-free operation.

The interior parts of console range hoods embodying the present invention are advantageously arranged to minimize the changes necessary to convert a hood adapted for installation in a ducted environment for installation in a duct-free environment. As many parts as possible are utilized in both modes, thus to make such parts do double duty and keep the cost of the conversion to a minimum.

The procedural steps involved in eifectuating the conversion are quite simple and can be readily accomplished by unskilled personnel.

The present invention materially reduces the inventory of console type' range hoods which must be stocked by 5 installers of this kind of apparatus. From a stock of the same basic console range hood structures, the dealer can readily produce either a ducted hood or a duct-free hood.

Typically, a dealer will stock a supply of duct type console hoods embodying important features of the present invention. These hoods are used without change on all ducted installations. The dealer will also stock a small supply of charcoal filter pans and sleeve insert units. To adapt a hood for duct-free operation, a slight re-arrangement of the interior parts of the hood is l5 effectuated. One of the charcoal filter pans and sleeve insert units is incorporated therein. In one embodiment of the invention, the charcoal filter pan and grease filter are in stacked relationship. In this embodiment, both the grease filter and charcoal filter are within the inlet passage to the blower.

In another embodiment of the invention, the charcoal filter pan is within the sleeve insert unit at the discharge side of the blower. In such embodiment, the charcoal filter pan can be made of considerably larger area than in the stacked embodiment aforesaid. This has certain advantages in that the velocity of air flow through the carbon filter can be kept quite low because the total air flow is distributed over a greater area. The air How velocity through the carbon filter increases its efficiency in removing odors.

In both such embodiments of the invention, the grease filter is relatively small in area. Accordingly, the air velocity per unit area through the grease `filter is rather 'high, for maximum grease filtering eiciency.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the support structure for the sleeve insert. This structure includes a `bracket which functions as a baille to seal the interior of the hood from the kitchen when the hood is adapted for ducted installations and which provides a port for the sleeve insert unit when the hood is adapted for duct-free operation. The hood pull-out drawer is provided with a partition which cooperates with the bracket to properly channel air flow in both modes of operation.

The console range hood of the present invention has a housing at the back of which there is a discharge irnpeller. The hood has a pull-out drawer fume catcher. In accordance with the present invention, the housing is provided with mounting means on which the impeller can be shifted to selectively discharge through a duct near the back of the housing when the hood is in its ducted mode, or discharge forwardly through the housing and toward the front of the hood in its duct-free mode. The pullout drawer and housing are provided with a partition to divide the housing and drawer into a lowermost inlet .60 carried in one embodiment of the invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. l is a fragmentary top perspective View showing a console hood embodying the invention adapted for ductfree operation and in which the hood pull-out drawer has been pulled out or projected to a fume collecting position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through the hood of FIG. l, in its duct-free mode and showing the embodiment in which the charcoal lter pan is mounted in the insert sleeve.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section similar to the cross section of FIG. 2, but showing another embodiment in which the charcoal filter pan is in stacked relation to the grease filter.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken through a range hood embodying the present invention in its ducted mode and with the drawer extended= FIG. 5 is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 4 but in which the drawer has been pushed in to its retracted position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the manner of assembly of the blower in its mounting brackets and illustrating the air duct arrangement for Ventilating the blower motor.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarger vertical cross section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the sleeve insert, charcoal lllter pan, baille and baille plate.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIITION The console hood, generally identified by reference character 15, is mounted in the kitchen between the top of the high oven of a console range, and a soillt 17.

The hood 15 comprises a sheet metal housing 18 and a sheet metal pull-out drawer 19. As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the housing 18 may be provided with a pair of guide rollers 20. The drawer 19 is provided with a complementary pair of guide rollers 21. The top edges of the sides of the drawer 19 carry a pair of tracks 22 which rollably support the drawer on the rollers 20. Housing 18 has a pair of tracks 25 along the undersurface of which the drawer rollers 21 roll. Accordingly, the drawer 19 is guided and rollably supported for movement between its extended position as illustrated in FIG. 4 and a retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

At its rear end housing 18 contains a blower unit 26 which is conventional and will not be described in detail, other than to point out that it consists of a central motor 27 having a pair of centrifugal impeller wheels 28, one on each end of the motor shaft. Each impeller wheel 28 is mounted in a scrool housing 29, each having a discharge throat 30.

At its upper rear corner 33 the housing 18 is notched out to form a pair of discharge openings 34 in the top wall of 'the housing 18, and a like pair of discharge openings 35 in the back wall of housing 18. When the hood is used in its duct-free mode, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, these openings 34, 35 are closed by an angular cap 36.

When the hood is used in its ducted mode, however, l

the discharge spouts 30 of the blower 26 are selectively aligned to discharge either through the top pair of openings 34, as is shown in FIG. 4, or to discharge through the rear pair of openings 3S, as is shown in FIG. 5. The blower is readily shifted between its respective positions, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by reason of the novel mounting means best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

The top 'rear corner 33 of the housing 18 is provided with laterally spaced corner brackets 37. Each bracket has a laterally projecting anchor tab 38 which has a tapped hole to receive a mounting screw by which similar anchor tabs 41, 42 mounted on the side of the scroll housing 29 of the blower 26 are selectively fastened to the corner bracket. As shown in FIG. 4, the blower unit 26 is mounted to discharge upwardly through the top opening 34 into a discharge duct 43 which desirably has a back draft damper 44. In FIG. 5, the blower 26 is mounted to discharge rearwardly through the back opening 35 through a duct 45 which desirably also has a back draft damper 46. Both of these arrangements involve the ducted mode of operation.

The motor 27 is ventilated in both arrangements shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by drawing air through a Ventilating duct 47 which, as best shown in FIG. 11, is open along a horizontal port 48 and a vertical port 49. As is clear from FIG. 7, the motor housing 52 of the blower unit 26 has an inlet port 53 which is recessed somewhat below the outer perimeter of the scroll housings 29 so that in the respective positions of the blower unit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, port 53 will register either with port 48y or port 49 in the Ventilating duct 47.

Ventilating air is supplied to the duct 47 through a duct extension 55 which extends beneath the top of the housing 18 and communicates with louvre openings 56 therein.

As best shown in FIG. 6, Ventilating air drawn through the duct 47 along the path of arrows 51 is irnpelled by the impeller blade wheels 28 past the motor 27 and through the discharge spouts 30V of the scroll housings 29, to keep the motor 27 cool.

The construction of the pull-out drawer 19 is such as to readily accommodate both the duct-free and ducted mode of operation of the range hood. An important feature of the pull-out drawer is the horizontal partition 57 by which drawer is subdivided into a lowermost inlet passage 58 and an uppermost portion 59 above the partition 57. The uppermost portion 59 has no function in the ducted mode of the hood, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, in the duct-free mode, the upper portion 59` functions as a discharge passage for the puriiled air. The partition 57 may be located at various heights in drawer 19, its position in the drawings being typical.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for ducted installations the cooking fumes are drawn into the extended drawer 19 through an inlet port 62 in the bottom wall of the drawer 19. These fumes flow on the path of arrows 66 through a grease lter 63, through the lowermost fume passage 58 in drawer 19, through the hood housing 18, into the eyes of the blower 26 and out either one of the ducts 43, 45, depending on the specic duct installation as are alternatively illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the ducted mode the uppermost passage 59 of drawer 19 is blocked by a baille plate 64 and baille plate bracket 65 which block or seal the passage 59 from communication with the interior of housing 18, so that the fan 26 will draw all of its air requirements through the fume collecting port 62 and grease lter 63, as illustrated by the path of arrows 66 in FIG. 4. The arrows 66 illustrate fumes rising from the top burners of the console hood and also fumes Corning from the vents of the high oven 16.

The baflle plate bracket 65 is mount-ed to the undersurface of the top wall of the housing 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Top flange 67 of the bracket 65 seats against the undersurface of the top wall of the housing 18. Bracket 65 has a port or opening 68. In the ducted mode of the hood, port 68 is releasably closed by the baille plate 64 which is interftted into the port 68, as iS illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Note from FIG. 10 that the bottom corners of the baille plate 64 are notched out at 71. This leaves a broad tongue 72 at the bottom edge of the plate 64 which is slightly narrower than the width of the port 68. Accordingly, the tongue 72 is inserted through the port opening 68 to interlock with the angular rail 73 along the bottom of the baille 65 and which denes the bottom of the port 68 and strengthens the bafiie 65.

The upper margin of the plate 64 is provided with screw openings 74 which align with tapped openings 75 in the upper margin of the baffle bracket 65. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the screws 76 releasably mount the plate 64 in the port 68 of the bracket 65.

As aforestated, a typical mode of use of the console range hood is to use it in its ducted condition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Most installations are made with this construction.

However, for the reasons stated in my prior patent aforesaid, there is a certain demand for duct-free installations. Under these circumstances, the hood of the present invention is readily convertible for duct-free operation simply by inserting into housing 18 a sleeve extension or housing 77, and to add a charcoal filter pan. The pan can be either the pan 78 receivable within Vthe sleeve housing, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, or a stacked filter pan 79, as shown in FIG. 3.

The sleeve extension or housing 77 is easily mounted within the housing 18, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the specifically disclosed form of the sleeve or housing 77, the top wall 80 thereof is provided with upwardly inclined ducts 82. These ducts 82 are provided with projecting mounting tabs 83 which rest on the top of the discharge spouts 30 of the blowers 26 which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, have been turned around to discharge forwardly through the housing. The mounting tabs 42 on the scroll housings 29 of the blower unit 26 are utilized in this mode to attach the blower to the complementary tabs 38 on the mounting brackets 37, as shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, the rear end of sleeve housing 77 is suspended in the housing 18 upon the discharge spouts 30 of the blower 26.

The forward end of the sleeve housing 77 is provided with a down-turned lip 84 which is supported on an inturned flange 85 on the baffle bracket 65. In the duct-free mode, the baffle bracket 65 is left in place, but the bafiie 64 is removed therefrom to open up the port 68. The bottom wall 86 of tray 77 now functions as an extension of the drawer partition 57 to constitute the sleeve housing 77 as part of a discharge duct for air impelled by the blower 26 along the path of arrows 87. When the drawer 19 is pushed to its retracted position (such as the position shown in FIG. 5), partition 57 in the drawer simply slides beneath the bottom wall 86 of the sleeve housing 77. In this manner the sleeve housing 77 is telescopically associated with the discharge passage 59 in the drawer 19.

In duct-free installations, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the same grease filter 63 utilized in the ducted mode of FIG. 4 may be retained. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, charcoal filter pan 78 is incorporated at the discharge side of the fan 26. It is housed within the sleeve housing 77. It is advantageously disposed in a slanted or oblique position within the housing 77. Its front edge is in elevated support position on the ledge or flange 85 of the bracket 65. Its rear edge rests on the floor 86 of the sleeve housing 77.

Because of the large horizontal cross section of the sleeve housing 77, the charcoal filter pan 78 may have a correspondingly large area. This has the advantage of reducing the velocity of the air flow therethrough for maximum purifying efficiency of the charcoal on the fumes flowing therethrough. In typical embodiments of the invention, the air flow through filter 78 is relatively low, approximately 100 f.p.m.

The FIG. 2 embodiment accordingly separates the grease filter 63 from the charcoal air purifying filter 78. Note that in the FIG. 2 embodiment the grease filter 63 has a much smaller area than the charcoal filter 78. This is also advantageous from an efficiency standpoint because grease filters function most efficiently with high air velocities therethrough. In a practical embodiment of the invention, the air velocity through the grease filter 63 is about 250 f.p.m.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification in which the grease filter 63 and the charcoal purifying filter are stacked, one on top of the other both being disposed in the inlet passage 58 of the drawer 19 and immediately above the fume collecting port 62 therein. In this embodiment the char coal filter 79 is approximately the same area as the grease filter 63. While this configuration is not as eicient as the larger filter 78 of FIG. 2, it is more readily accessible for replacement in its stacked configuration. The filters 63, 79 are mounted in the inlet passage 58 of the drawer 19 on conventional ange type brackets 88, 90, 91.

Conversion of the hood for use in its duct-free mode, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is readily accomplished simply by turning the blower unit around to face forwardly, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, inserting the sleeve housing 77 and removing the bafiie plate 64. Either charcoal filter 78 or 79 is installed as is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, thus to complete the installation. The plate 57 and sleeve extention 77 then function as partition means to direct the air flow back into the kitchen, after it passes through the charcoal filter. These partition parts are relatively slideable to permit drawer movement.

Drawer 19 is manipulated by its handle knob 94. In its fully extended position, the fan switch is actuated by removal of the pressure therefrom of the switch depressing arm 96 which is mounted on the drawer 19, as shown in FIG. 8. When the drawer is closed, plate 96 engages the switch 95 to de-energize the fan motor 27.

What I claim is:

1. In a console range hood having a housing with a discharge impeller and a duct inlet near its back end a pull-out drawer fume catcher near its front, the improvement for connecting said hood for use either in a ducted .mode or in a duct-free mode and comprising mounting means on which the impeller can be shifted to selectively discharge through the duct inlet near the back of the housing in the ducted mode or discharge forwardly through the housing and toward the front thereof in the duct-free mode, partition means comprising a fixed horizontal partition on the drawer and a removable sleeve in the housing, said partition and sleeve being relatively slidable to permit the drawer to be opened and closed, said partition means dividing the housing and drawer into a lowermost inlet passage communicating with the impeller inlet and an uppermost discharge passage communicating with the impeller discharge when it discharges forwardly in its duct-free mode, a baffle bracket mounted on the housing across the discharge passage, means on the bracket on which the adjacent end of the sleeve is supported in said housing, said bracket having a port and a removable port covering baffle to close the discharge passage when the hood is used in its ducted mode and open the discharge passage when the hood is used in its duct-free mode, said sleeve being telescopically receivable in the space within the drawer above said fixed horizontal partition when the drawer is closed, said impeller being provided with a discharge throat, said sleeve being provided with an inlet duct which interlocks with said throat to support the sleeve within the housing on said throat, said impeller having a motor, a motor Ventilating duct on the housing leading from near the front of the housing to the impeller motor and a motor port on the impeller which will communicate with the motor Ventilating duct in selected shifted positions of the impeller.

2. The console range hood of claim 1 in which there is a grease filter in the drawer in the lowermost inlet passage and an air purifying filter in the uppermost discharge passage.

3. The console range hood of claim 1 in'vwhich there is a grease filter and an air purifying filter in the drawer relation.

8 Dickey 62--262 X Roper 62-262 Spear. Cole. Simpson et al. 126--300 X Simpson et al, 126-299 X Stalker 98-115 X THORNTON, Primary Examiner 7 in the lowermost inlet passage, said filters being in stacked 2,361,090 10/ 1944 2,447,278 8/1948 References Cited 3,026,788 3/ 1962 3,292,523 12/1966 UNITED STATES PATENTS r 3,356,008 12/1967 5/1959 Scharmer. 0 3,356,009 12/1967 2/1961 Feig- 3,387,434 6/1968 10/1961 Jerabek et al. 55-482 X f f v 5/1962 Watt et a1. HARRY B l 1/1963 Bandlow. 4/1965 Jenson. 2/1966 Turner et al. v 5/ 1966 Stalker. Y 11/1966 Welch. 55-318, 359, 383,

5/ 1967 Simpson et al. 15 9/1940 Lambert et al 62-262 X v 10 D. E. TALBERT, JR., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

